The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is cutting back its measurements of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as Congress shrinks its budget — even as fossil-fuel industries claim that the science of climate change isn't good enough to justify regulation.

The existing climate research budget crunch may be made worse by across-the-board cuts mandated if Congress and the White House fail to reach a budget agreement by January 2013.

During the administration of George W. Bush — which tried to emphasize scientific doubt and delay regulation — the strategy was to delay action by calling for more study. But that administration cut back measurements as well.